Chloé

One could argue that the highest art of seasonal dressing is found during the transformative periods; those breezy weeks between sun-laden summer and full-on fall (and later, as the days grow longer, those days when winter draws to an end and spring busts out all over). This year’s pre-fall collections have finally arrived, and we’re sharing some of the best transitional pieces complete with commentary from venerable designers and the wise sages over at our designer buying office. There’s nothing quite like updated classics, a little retro fever and impeccable craftsmanship to put a little high-gloss on the in-between zone.

The LA Times is on the same insider-access wavelength; they just interviewed Nordstrom’s director of creative projects and Pop-In curator Olivia Kim about her latest shoppable microcosm,Magic Hour, and then they asked her to point to Seattle’s best tofu bowl and vintage finds. Which she was, of course, happy to do.

Designers in Paris tend to march to their own very distinct beat, and the shows there always deliver a beautifully diverse array of trends. There were, however, certain key looks, items and ideas that emerged over the course of all four of this season’s fashion weeks and reached their apex in the French capital.

Among our Top 10: A mood of romantic, gothic Victorian; a nostalgic ’70s feeling; and a clean-edged retro-future idea that recalls the ’60s but is brought up to date with modern fabrications. Fur and layered texture continue in importance and a tailored coat, sleek bag and fitted boot will all be must-haves come fall. High-shine leather and precious dimensional embellishments in unexpected forms keep the look sleek, modern and feminine. Enjoy!

Whether you’re watching the runway from home or from the front row, it’s impossible to not be completely captivated by certain models. There are the classically beautiful ones and the offbeat beauties, the girls who seem to come from another world and those who might be your awkward neighbor from kindergarten.

The best ones just have that something. Sometimes they’re even a little distracting—you look at them as closely as you do the clothes they’re modeling. But that plays into the brand too. Some models are cast because they have the perfect proportions and walk like they’re in a dream. Some are cast because they simply possess a spirit that draws you in—and keeps you there.

It’s a big deal to be booked exclusively; it means it’s the only show you do in that market. It means you’re paid more. It means the brand really wants your certain something to represent their certain something. Evander’s certain something is in her 5’11” frame and her ethereal coloring, but it’s also in her goofball spirit and small-town roots. She’s a total sweetheart and a complete teenager. She loves her mom and family and her community, and she’s curious about the world. She also likes steak and French fries, as I learned when I had dinner with her at Le Relais de l’Entrecote.

By the fourth week of what is really Fashion Month, the sheer number of shows attended by someone like Konca Aykan, the super-chic stylist and Vogue Turkey Fashion Director, is sort of staggering. So asking her over a laid-back Saturday lunch which ones have stood out—well, it’s not really a trick question, but it’s also not an easy one.

Margherita Maccapani Missoni isn’t having a typical Paris Fashion Week. When I met with her yesterday at her family apartment in the 7th arrondissement, she had just returned not from a runway show but from an acupuncture appointment; her second child is due in two months, and these last few weeks have been a little difficult. That evening she would attend the Lanvin opening at the Palais Galliera with her grandmother, and later in the week she’ll attend a dinner for her friend, the designer Charlotte Olympia, but these days she’s not really thinking about ready-to-wear. She’s thinking about kidswear, and her brand-new, exclusive-to-Nordstrom line Margherita.

Annabel Rosendahl is working this retro look, but it is way more rock-and-roll than Woodstock. Velvet is a texture to watch in the coming seasons, and these slim crushed-velvet pants are so unique. A lace turtleneck adds some femininity to the rocker look, while a sleek Chloé handbag keeps things in the now.

We’ll always say yes to a peek inside the handbags of inspiring women—and definitely yes to insider tips on the best little-known places to go in Paris. British-born, Paris-based Creative Director Clare Waight Keller gives us both, and tells us a little about the newest handbag designs in the Chloé resort collection.

Anya Ziourova is on board with the ’70s revival. These high-waisted bell bottoms are making me swoon with envy. I must find a pair immediately! Pairing them with a delicate bow blouse and sky-high platforms, Anya turned casual retro into high-end chic. As one of Russia’s leading fashion editors and stylists, Anya is a master of trends.